MANICS ROCK THE AIRWAVES FROM WALES

Manic Street Preachers are performing five songs live this Sunday (Sept 13) at a special concert to be broadcast simultaneously on Radio 1 in the UK.

The Radio 1 Live concert takes place at Cooper’s Park in Cardiff and besides the Manics the bill features HURRICANE #1, REPUBLICA, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, DIVINE COMEDY and is headlined by ASH. Kick-off time is at 4pm with alleged “comedy” turn THE SHIREHORSES (Radio 1 DJs Mark Radcliffe and Lard) and the show finishes at 10.30pm. PETE TONG and DJ PUNK ROC will be on the decks between the bands.

Following the show at midnight, the Cardiff Virgin Megastore is hosting a signing session with the Manic Street Preachers.

Meanwhile, the Manics camp has hit back at claims made by The Stranglers’ publishers that the current MSP single ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ “borrows substantially” from the punk veterans’ 1979 song ‘Duchess’.

The Manics say that while they concede a “similarity” exists between the two songs, any resemblance is purely coincidental and that as a band they do not even own any Stranglers records.

A Manics spokesperson confirms that The Stranglers’ publishing company, Complete Music, sent a legal letter to Epic Records pointing out the resemblance. Complete Music refuses to comment other than to say it is still considering its position on the matter. However, the Manics spokeswoman says they’ve had a musicologist look at the two songs and would fight any action launched.

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The Manics say they were not aware of any similarity until it was pointed out to them. Sean Moore says: “When we actually heard it we thought, ‘Bloody hell, it does sound similar’, but nothing was intentional.”

Nicky Wire says: “It’s not something we’d sit and do, like nick something from The Stranglers – it’s the most bizarre thing!”

The Manics are marking the release of their new album, ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’ with a “truth box” that will be travelling around the country giving people the chance to air their opinions on any subject and in any form. The best submissions will be broadcast on MTV and the overall winner will be invited to meet the band when they play live in Barcelona in October.